LO and Sugary Drinks

Re: LO and Sugary Drinks

• brie_and_almonds member

  February 2017

  Good god, soda to a 10 month old? Definitely not a good idea. It is a battle with my parents and MIL to value healthy eating habits with DD1, who is four.
  
  In my experience, Grandparents don't seem to understand the concept of moderation, so it has been much easier to just say "no soda" and always check if juice is cut with water (we did "no juice" until L was like 2 as well) than do get into a "give a mouse a cookie" type situation. Same with TV time, candy, etc.
  
  Maybe this makes me a crazy B and a mean mom, but I want my kids to have healthy choices with all their caregivers.

  

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• brie_and_almonds member

  February 2017

  Also, if I were rational and kind, I would sit down and talk to my mom about the parenting decisions my husband and I have made, and how we ask that she respect and follow those decisions, and everything would be peachy keen from then on.
  
  But, we are dysfunctional, so my mom drops passive-aggressive comments and "questions" until I flip out and yell at her about how we are following current doctor and AAP recommendations not 1980s ones, and then she leaves the issue alone for a while (and lather, rinse, repeat).

  

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• redselig member

  February 2017

  I've dealt with that kind of tension not with my parents but with the in-laws. MIL would always ask me if She can feed DS a tiny piece of cake or panettone claiming that there was very little sugar. I don't mind if he has a taste but of course MIL insists on giving more since DS obviously enjoyed it. I've just flat out said no because other gentler ways never got me anywhere. I think many of the older folks just aren't informed about the ill effects of sugar consumption and probably still think Tang and Kool-Aid are acceptable beverage choices. Be firm and stand your ground. 

  

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• ladylolly89 member

  February 2017

  Oh my goodness! Sugary sodas for a 10 month old is definitely not okay! I would put my foot down HARD on that one.
  That said, we do let DS have some sugar (the occasional bite of cookie or similar treat, or if DH and I make pancakes then he always has one). We always follow up with brushing teeth. But no sugary drinks (including juice), period. 

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• g&tlewis member

  March 2017

  We haven't crossed that path with soda/juice yet, but my mom fed my son (about 9 months at the time) strawberry pie. Not even the actual strawberries... The prepackaged strawberry pie filling that is loaded with sugar and probably no actual strawberry flavoring. Just because we said we could have table food didn't mean you can give him anything you'd like. Plus, I'm southern so my mom's side of the family tends to cook the traditional southern, completely unhealthy, everything has a stick of butter food. We had to have a conversation about only giving the baby healthier table food. Of course, my mom got mad at me, but I didn't care. I want what my husband and I feel is best for our son. We've also said he is only to have water or formula. I give him half and half Gerber pear juice and water when he's a little constipated, but that's the only juice he gets. 
  
  Stand your ground on this one. A sip or two every now and then is one thing but giving a cup to a 10 month old is crazy to me. 

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• randilea0110 member

  March 2017

  I know how you feel. MIL tries to give DD sugary crap all the time. She wanted to let her taste a doughnut when she was 3 months old and after saying no she still tried to shove it in her mouth so I smacked MIL's hand. She got the point and has listened to me ever since thankfully. We won't let my dad drive DD anywhere because he has several health issues and is a terrible driver and because I won't back down and give in to him he hasn't talked to me since October. Point being, we have to do what we believe to be best for our LO's and our parents need to learn to respect us and our decisions. I think part of the issue is that parents still see us as their little kids so they tend to think that they still know best even though it has been 20-40 years since the last time they were raising an infant. I have found that pointing out to them that things have changed since my parents and in-laws were taking care of infants in the 70's and 80's, that they tend to be a bit more understanding. I also have to constantly remind both sets of our parents that we are adults, that we are the parents of DD, and that while we would love to hear their opinions on things, that we will ultimately do what we believe to be in the best interest of our child according to the opinions of our parents, our own opinions, and the facts that we have available to us from medical professionals. Good luck with your mom. I hope she responds better than what you are expecting her to. 

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• mb0112 member

  March 2017

  I think most moms would agree that sugary drinks and especially sodas have no place in a baby's diet!  If it is tough with your mom, say the dr specially told you to avoid those drinks.  If she is offended because maybe she gave that to you as a baby, just say recommendations have changed and there's a lot more junk in those drinks nowadays than there used to be.  And that you have a really hard time getting him to drink water after he tastes the sweeter drinks.  

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• loveymay member

  March 2017

  I talked to my mom about it. I told her I didn't want LO drinking any sugary drinks, just water right now. I also said that I appreciate all of her help with babysitting and I value her advice and experience, but I have a hard time talking with her about things like this, because it seems like she always gets mad. She responded in a very positive way, which I was not expecting.  But she said that LO is my baby and she respects my decisions regarding him, and she won't let my grandfather give him any more sugary drinks. She also said she thinks I am a great mother and doing a wonderful job. So all is well, and I feel so much better! And LO has been much better behavior wise at night. No more insane screaming and meltdowns! I'm  very close with my mom, but I always avoid any type of potential confrontation. But I'm really glad I spoke up this time, I think it will make any future issues easier to deal with. Whew!  Thanks for letting me vent and for the advice!

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